Sep 30, 2014

After a long wait amid considerable rumors, on Sept. 9 Apple announced the new iPhone 6 and its first-ever phablet, the iPhone 6 Plus. Mashable reports that the iPhone 6 will have a 4.7-inch screen and the Plus will have a 5.5-inch screen. They both will have the same internal specs, but the Plus will have a higher resolution of 1920 x 1080.

The iPhone 6 came out Sept. 19 for $199, $299 or $399, depending on the amount of GB, which is great for any of us hanging onto our carrier's upgrade renewal. But, for late purchasers of the iPhone 5S or 5C, there isn't much hope for a new iPhone 6 on launch day, unless you're willing to pay the hefty non-subsidized price.
For all those living in contractual limbo: Don't fret. Sure, maybe you can't have the iPhone 6 with the rest of the Apple fanatics on day one, but you can take a few tips and tricks to keep your current iPhone kicking until your next upgrade.

A Clean Start

If your phone is slow or unresponsive, there's a good chance nothing is wrong with the hardware. Think about all the pictures, emails, texts and apps that build up on your phone over the months. Even a device as new as the iPhone 5 can get bogged down by an overabundance of content (and let's face it, do you really need all those pictures of your cat in that weird Christmas sweater?).
Take a leap of faith and wipe that phone clean. It's time for your phone to look and act like it came right out of the box. Of course, save your important pictures and emails to your desktop first. And don't worry about your paid apps, because they are 100 percent re-downloadable for free. Follow these step-by-step instructions from Apple's support forum (but don't restore your iCloud backupâ€”remember, this is all about new beginnings).

The iPhone's New Clothes

Now that your phone is fresh on the inside, it's time for a fresh look on the outside with a new case and screen protector. The best thing about iPhone cases is there are thousands of designs to choose from. Some are just plain protective shells, and others double as wallets or battery packs. Think about getting a matte screen protector, too, as they reduce glare and hide fingerprints.

Go the Distance

Clean on the inside, clean on the outsideâ€”your old iPhone isn't looking so old anymore. But remember, it still needs to last until your next upgrade. There are a couple final details to ensure your phone will go the distance.

First, get yourself a protection plan in case your iPhone decides to take a fall. Even the best cases can only do so much to protect against cracked screens and water damage, and just the right angle can destroy any phone. Protection plans are typically about six dollars a month and ensure you don't pay full price for a replacement.

The second method is to purchase a decent cleaning kit to keep all the dirt and grime off your phone. iKlear makes a decent kit and will give your phone that polished look you see in the Apple Store.
After that, just ride out the contract wave with your "new" phone, and the iPhone 6 will be in your hands in no time.